GCC to award more than US$86 billion worth of projects in 2014

Friday, 08 August 2014 08:42

Infrastructure projects make up 16 per cent of the total construction value of GCC projects. (Image source: Martyn E. Jones/sxc.hu)Infrastructure project awards across the GCC will exceed US$86bn in 2014, an increase of 77.8 per cent over 2013, according to a report

New figures released by Ventures Onsite show an increase in contract awards across the region, in every country except Saudi Arabia.

It said that Qatar will award projects worth US$26.2bn compared with US$9.4bn last year while Kuwait is expected to award US$3.45bn, almost 10 times in 2013.

In the UAE, projects worth US$15.18bn will be awarded, almost five times the contracts awarded in 2013, while in Oman infrastructure awards are expected to reach US$7.4bn — up US$5.5bn in 2013. Meanwhile Bahrain, which awarded US$382mn last year, is expected to award US$3.4bn for projects.

Saudi Arabia’s forecast award of US$29.34bn, the highest in the region, however, represents a decrease year on year. Last year’s total awards of US$33.6bn included the US$22.5bn Riyadh Metro project, the report stated.

Infrastructure projects reportedly make up 16 per cent of the total construction value of GCC projects, and rail projects like the Riyadh Metro are the main beneficiary. According to Ventures Onsite, it is estimated the rail sector is worth US$200bn as the six countries aim for an integrated GCC-wide network by 2018.